Amateur video shows a man carrying out a shooting attack in Halle, Germany, October 9, 2019. /VCG Photo
An anti-Semitic attack that killed at least two people in the German city of Halle Wednesday was streamed live for 35 minutes, the online platform Twitch said.
"The account owner streamed this horrific act live on Twitch for 35 minutes, during which time it was viewed by approximately five people," the livestream gaming platform posted on Twitter.
"A recording of the stream, which was automatically generated based on the account's settings, was viewed by approximately 2,200 people in the 30 minutes before the video was flagged and removed from Twitch," according to the platform, which is owned by Amazon.
In a copy of the video obtained by AFP but whose authenticity has not been confirmed by police, the gunman filmed himself launching into a diatribe against women and Jews, before carrying out an attack against a synagogue in the east German city on the holy day of Yom Kippur as well as at a Turkish restaurant.
A 27-year-old suspect was arrested, but two others fled in a hijacked car, officials said.
Citing federal prosecutors, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said "there are sufficient indications for a possible right-wing extremist motive."
People attend a gathering at the New Synagogue in Berlin after two people were killed in a shooting in the eastern German city of Halle, Germany, October 9, 2019. /VCG Photo
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy that took place in Germany today, and our deepest condolences go out to all those affected," said Twitch spokeswoman Brielle Villablanca.
"Twitch has a zero-tolerance policy against hateful conduct, and any act of violence is taken extremely seriously."
The shooter's method had disturbing similarities to those of the attacker in the deadly Christchurch mosque assault earlier this year.
The New Zealand shooting was live-streamed on Facebook in March, prompting governments to press social networks to prevent the airing of violent acts on their platforms.
Twitch said it is committed to working with industry peers, law enforcement, and any relevant parties to protect the community.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) attends a gathering at the New Synagogue in Berlin, Germany, October 9, 2019. /VCG Photo
German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned Wednesday's deadly shooting and expressed "solidarity for all Jews on the holy day of Yom Kippur," according to her spokesperson.
Merkel later attended a vigil at Berlin's main synagogue.
(With input from agencies)